Rotary drilling apparatus



Nov. 24l 14925. 1,562,449

' C. W. HERRIN' ROTARY DRILLING 'APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 f 3/ v i ,2

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Nov; 24, 1925. 1,562,449

C. W. HERRI N ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12 1924 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 68 6866 IEA. Eimg, J6 i' gwucutoz CzarZes Wfernz'n/ Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES w. HEREIN, or rATToNsBUEG, MIssoUEI.

ROTA/RY DRILLING ABPARATUS.

Application led November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,444.

T all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HEREIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pattonsburg, in the county of Daviess and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of drilling oil and other relatively deep wells the bits soon become dull, especially when drilling through rock or gravel formation, and niust'be frequently lifted to the surface to be replaced wit-h sharpened bits, thereby resulting in the loss otherwise be advantageously devoted to actual drilling of the well.

By the use of my invention the time and labor expended in raising and replacing the Generally speaking, the invention embraces a sleeve on which the bits are mounted, and mechanism whereby said Sleeve may be readily coupled to or nncoupled from the` drill stem whereby it is driven, without. lifting said drill stem to the surface. On being nncoupled the sleeve can be readily slipped over the stem to the surface and after having the dull bits .replaced with sharpones, againbe lowered to the bottom of the well and -recoupled to the drill stem, all within a comparatively short time.

The invention also embodies means for raising and lowering the sleeve with the bits, and inI order that said invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to `the accompanying "drawings, in which: i

Fig. l is a side elevation of theapparatus with the lifting Vdevice in position to raise or lower the sleeve with the bits.

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the apparatus with the bits in working position and the'lifting device removed.

Fig. 3 isV alongitudinal section of the apparatus with the bits in inactive position to vindependently of each other.

' permit the same to be raised and lowered v without interference with the drill stem.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation partly in section, of a portion ofthe drill stem and i parts associated therewith. 55 FFig. 5 is a cross section on line V-V of Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectionof the sleeve with the bits 1n inactive position.

Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section of the 60 vdevice for raising and lowering the sleeve and the bits.

Fig. 8 is a cross section ofthel sleeve on `line VIII- VIII of Fig. 6. of considerable time and labor which could Fig.` 9 is a detail perspective View of one 65 of the bits and a screw associated therewith.

Fig. 10 is a broken detail partly in section of one of the screws with a 'stop atthe upper end thereof in section.

Fig.. 11 is a broken side elevation of the lower portion of the sleeve with the bits bef ing adjusted to active position. Fig. 12 4's a detail plan view of a nut which cooperates with the screw of each kbit to turn the 4latter one quarter of` a revolution. 7;

Fig. 13 .is a broken side elevation of the' lower portion of the sleeve with the bits in inactive position.

Referring now in detail to the various parts, 2 and 4 designate two sections of the customary tubular rotary drill stem. The section 4 is provided at its upper portion with a pair of dialnetrically opposed guide lugs 6 and at its lower portion with a pair of diametrically opposed coupling elements 8, which are arranged in longitudinal alinement' with said guide lugs 6.

10 designates a leg having a swivel cons nection v12 with the lower end of the drill stem section 4, so that they may turn axially Said leg-`10 is provlded atits upper portion with a pair of diametrically opposed 'guide lugs 14 and at its lower end with a chuck 16 having a air of diametrically opposed slots 18 exten ing vertically therethrough to receive the upper 4 y ends of the bits hereinafter referred'to. A. duct extends vertically through thet leg through under pressure received through the tubular drill stem from the upper portion of the well for the purpose of ushi-ng out the cuttings at the bottom of said well.

24 designates a sleeve loosely embracing the drill stem so that it may be raised and lowered independently of the same. The sleeve 24 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedinternal grooves 26 eX- tending longitudinally thereofand having reversely disposed lateral extensions 28 for the reception of the coupling elements 8. The lower ends of the grooves have flaring mouths 30 to direct the guide lugs 6 therein, as will hereinafter appear, andv communicate with an annular recess 31 in the upper end of the sleeve 24 to receive the guides 6. The lower end of the sleeve-24 has a pair of diametrically opposed members 32 lfor interlockingwith segmental members 34 at the lower margin ofthe chuck 16 and whereby sa-id chuck and the leg 10 are rotated by the sleeve 24.

36 designates a pair of bits provided at their upper ends with extensions 38 forming offsets v40 from which screws 42 project. Saidv screws 42 operate in nuts 44 and are provided at their upperends with stops 46 to prevent them from moving downwardly out of engagement with said nuts 44. The nuts 44 are set in-diametrically opposed recesses 48 in the sleeve 24, and the stops 46, together with the upper portions ofthe screws 42, operate in longitudinal slots 50 in opposite sides of said sleeve 24. The stops 46 are threaded on the upper ends of the screws 42, Fig. 10, so that they may be removed to permit removal of the bits 36 when the same are to be sharpened. Eachscrew 42 has a single thread 52` at its upper portion with a quarter twist, so that when ysaid thread 52 moves downwardly through the associate nut 44 it will turn the associate. bit 36 to inactive position, Figs. 3` 6 and 13, and on moving upwardly through the nut, turn the bit to active position, Fi s. 1 and 2.

The bits 36 chuck 16 and are firmly held thereby in active position. The chuck 16 is assisted in holding the bits 36 in active position by the walls of diametrically-opposed recesses 54 in the lower end of the sleeve 24. c

56 designates a device freely movable on the drill stem, for raising and lowering the sleeve 24 with thebits 36'. Said device .56 consists of cables 58 which may depend from a drum at the surface', a ring 60, and a pair of reversely disposed hooks 62 -depending from a nipplev64 having a swivel connection with the ring 60. The hooks 62 are adapted to engage corresponding hooks 66 at the. upper end of the sleeve 24. The lower ends of the hooks 62 are V-shaped as shown by Fig. 1, so that on contacting the sloping upper margins 68 of the sleeve 24, they will t into the slots 18 in the be guided by said margins and the drill stem into engagement with the hooks 66.

Assuming that the sleeve 34 and the bits 36 are in working position at the bottom of the well and it becomes necessary to lift the same to the surface for the purpose of sharpening said bits, the operation briefly stated is as follows: The drill stem is rotated a partial revolution to move the coupling elements 8 out of the lateral extensions 28 .of the grooves 26. The sleeve 24 is then lifted to the surface by raising the lifting device 56, which onbeinglowered, is guided into engagement with the ,hooks 62 by the drill stem and the inclined surfaces 68 at the upper end of the sleeve 24. As the bits 36 move upwardly out of engagement with the chuck 16 they contact with a shoulder 72 and are held stationary thereby while the sleeve 24 continues its upward movement and draws the-nuts 44 to the upper ends of inactive position, Fig. 3, so that said bits 36v may clear the drill stem which remains stationary. On being raised to the surface, the. bits 36 are removed from the sleeve 24 and resharpened or replaced b v others, after which said sleeve 24 is again lowered over the' drill stem to the bottom of the well b v the device 56. As the sleeve 24 passes downwardly it is turned by the guide lugs 6 and the flaring mouths 30 to bring the grooves 26 into line with said lugs 6 and the coupling elements 8, so that the sleeve may pass over said lugs 6 and coupling elements 8. As the sleeve 24 continues to descend the guide lugs 14- enter the grooves 26 and4 hold the chuck 16 in position for the slots 18 to receive the bits 36. `As vthe lower end of the bits 36 contact the upper end of the chuck 16, Fig. 11, they are held stationarjvr-T thereby while the sleeve 24 continues to move downwardly until checked. by the interlocking members 32 eoengaging the interlocking members 34. As thernuts 44 move downwardly with the sleeve 24'while the bits 36 are resting upon the chuck 16` said nuts 44 rotate the screws 42 a quarter of a revolution and thus aline said bits 36. with the slots 18 and the recesses 54. which they enter and are thereby firmly held in active position.

The drill stein is now turned to bring the lateral extensions 28 of the grooves 26 in operative relation to the coupling elements 8 through which the weight of the drill stem is transferredl to the sleeve 24 and the bits 36, to cause the latter to eftectually perform their function of boring the well, upon heilig rotated. llf'hcn the drill stem turned as stated, to bring the'lateral extensions 28 into cooperative relation with the coupling elements 8 the guide lugs 6 impinge 4 against the hooks 62 and automatically' disengage the device 56 fromthe sleeve 24, so

-ing the advantages above pointed out, and

while I have shown the preferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I lclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve arranged to slip over said drill stem while the same isin a well, con ling means whereby said member iscaused) to rotate with said drill stem, and a bit mounted on said member to move therewith. i

2. In an apparatus of the character de-v scribed, a rotary drill stem, a sleevey arranged i to slip over said drill stem while the same is in a well, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits mounted on said sleeve, to move therewith, and' flexible means whereby said sleeve may be raised or lowered when u-ncoupled from the drill stem.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem. a sleeve removably lmounted on said drill stem, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits asso- .ciated with the sleevel and arranged to turn 'partof a revolution to inactive position to clear the drill stem, means for turning said bits, and means associated with the drill stem .and the sleeve for securing the bits in active position. 4

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary. drill stem` a sleeve remo-vi ably mounted on said -drill stem, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits associated with the sleeve'and arranged to turn part of a revolution to inactive position to clear the drill stem, screws fixed to said bits to turn the same, nuts carried by the sleeve for turning said screws, and means for securing `sai-d bits in active position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve removably mounted on said -drill stem, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotatewith said drill stem, a pair of bits associated with the sleeve and arranged to turn part of a revolution to inactive position to clear the drill stem, means for turning said bits, and a chuck associated with the drill stem for securing the bits in active position.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem. a sleeve removably mounted on said drill stem, coupling in active position.

von the leg adapted to enter said groove and 7. In an apparatus of the character de. scribed, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve removably mounted cn said drill stem, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits associated with the sleeve and arranged to turn part of a revolution to inactive position to clear the drill stem, means for turning said bits, a leg having a swivel connection with the lower end of the drill stem, and 8 a chuck :fixed to said leg to secure the bits in active position. f

8.In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve removably mounted on said drill stem, coupling means whereby said sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits associated with the sleeve and arranged to turn part of` a revolution to inactive position to clear the drill stem, means for turning said bits, a leg having a swivel connection with the lower end of the drill stem, a chuck fixed to said leg to secure the bits in active position, and guide means on the sleeve and said leg for positioning lsaid chuck for active engagement with the bits.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem. a sleeve removably mounted on said drill stem, coupling means whereby said Sleeve is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a pair of bits associated with the sleeve and arranged to turn part of a revolution to inactive position l to clear the drill stem, means t'or turning said bits, a leg having a swivel connection with the lower end of the drill stem, a chuck ixed to said leg to secure the -bits in active position, a groove in the sleeve, and a guide I position said chuck for active engagement with the bits.

Y10. In an apparatus of the character described, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve removably mounted on said drill stem and having q longitudinal grooves with lateral extensions, coupling members on the drill stem for entering said grooves and the lateral extensions to secure the sleeve inactive position on the drill stem, and bits carried by said sleeve.

11. In an apparat-us of the character described, a rotary drill stem, a sleeve removably mounted on said drill stem and having .longitudinal grooves with lateral extensions` coupling members on the drill stem for entering said grooves and the lateral extensions to secure the sleeve in active position on thedrill stem, -,@,gfuidefmeans for directing said coupling members into the grooves, and bits.

ably mounted on said drill stem, coupling means whereby said 'member is caused to rotate with said drill stem, a bit mou-ntedon said member, and means for raising and lowering said member when the same is uncoupled.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES HEREIN. 

